Los Angeles: A – Z To Do With Kids

A to Z of our favorite spots of where and what to do with kids in Los Angeles:

ANGELS CREST

It has Twisties, Vistas, occasionally Snow, hikes, camping, and dare I say it… NATURE! It’s crazy. You can experience so much great stuff on this drive regardless of your wanting to be touristy or beaten down the road on a bike or sliding turns like you’re a D-1 supastah! This is such a fun road to cruise.

ARBORETUM & BOTANIC GARDENS

The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden is a unique 127-acre botanical garden and historical site located in what was the heart of the historic Rancho Santa Anita in the city of Arcadia. www.arboretum.org

AUDOBAN

The mission of Los Angeles Audubon Society is to promote the enjoyment and protection of birds and other wildlife through recreation, conservation and restoration.www.losangelesaudubon.org

ALEX THEATER

Since 1925, the Alex Theatre has been a Los Angeles-area entertainment landmark, first as a top Vaudeville theatre, then as a movie palace. In 1992, the City of Glendale Redevelopment Agency purchased the Alex to serve as the centerpiece of Glendale’s revitalized Brand Boulevard. Today, the Alex Theatre hosts a bevy of culturally diverse professional and community stage productions and educational outreach programs.www.alextheatre.org

BLOOM SCHOOL OF MUSIC & DANCEBloom School of Music and Dance offers music lessons and dance classes for all ages taught by university trained instructors who are experienced, knowledgeable and who truly care about music and dance education.bloomschoolofmusicanddance.com

A PLACE TO CREATE is located in charming Atwater Village. It provides art classes, workshops and opportunities for people in our community to Create. Classes are small and intimate. Our philosophy emphasizes the creative process as more important than the final product; so we provide a non-pressured, fun, inspiring environment to Create a painting, mandala, quilt, mask, talisman, joke, or story. The sky is the limit when it comes to exploring your innate gift of creativity. Drop your children off and explore the community or come with your child and explore, create and imagine. www.aplacetocreate.net

COLOR ME MINE

Color Me Mine is a super-fun and educational place for Kids. We offer summer classes, after school enrichment, special events, classroom projects, field trips, scout parties and more! www.pasadena.colormemine.com

COLBURN SCHOOL

The Colburn Community School of Performing Arts (CSPA) serves students of all ages with classes in music, dance, drama and early childhood arts education, taught by skilled instructors. www.colburnschool.edu

CHINATOWN PLAZA Originally, New Chinatown consisted of many notable restaurants, shops, an herbal store, a grocery store, a bean cake factory, a Chinese deli and offices. In 1938, these long-time establishments were all moved from Los Angeles’ Old Chinatown, not quite a mile away. What led to this sudden mass relocation into Los Angeles’ Little Italy, and the need for establishing a new Chinatown? www.chinatownla.com

DESCANSO GARDENS is an urban retreat of year-round natural beauty, internationally renowned botanical collections and spectacular seasonal horticultural displays. In 1953, Descanso founder E. Manchester Body preserved these 160 acres of gardens, woodlands and chaparral for future generations to experience the natural heritage and beauty of Southern California. Accredited by the American Association of Museums, Descanso Gardens welcomes thousands of visitors annually, from local members to international travelers. www.descansogardens.org

DRAGONFLY DULOU was the brain child of former hair stylist Lana Chirco-Baltz and actor Kirk Baltz. As new parents, they were searching all over town for a place that supported a community of families. They were looking for a spot cool enough to hang out at run by people who understood parenting who also had an impeccable taste in fashion and an inspiring sense of humor. They dreamed of a place that nurtured children’s creativity and welcomed parents’ participation. www.dragonflydulou.com

ENNIS HOUSE: Built in 1924 for retailer Charles Ennis and his wife Mabel, the Ennis House was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and built by his son, architect Lloyd Wright. The house is the last and largest of the elder Wright’s four Los Angeles-area “textile block” houses which feature patterned and perforated concrete blocks that give a unique textural appearance to both their exteriors and interiors. The house and chauffeur’s quarters span roughly 6,200 square feet and were constructed of more than 27,000 concrete blocks; all made by hand using decomposed granite extracted from the site. www.ennishouse.com

EQUESTRIAN CENTER-BURBANK:

The Los Angeles Equestrian Center is home to a number of professional equestrian trainers for most horse breeds and riding styles.